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you are correct :) It is more than typing, there is e-mailing and following up, but oh sooooo worth

Posted By: lilworried on 2005-11-03
In Reply to: Boy, I'd be happy to take over that private account if you want to get rid of it! - Sheryl

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You are SOOOOO not alone!!! sm
I could have written every word of your post, as my feelings & situation are identical.
This is SOOOOO true
So many of us have been burned!!!!
To "Ah": You are sooooo right! sm
It was already like that when I retired about three years ago...MTs were treated like nothing and nobody, demoralized and tried to be made to believe that we had no skills--even seasoned veterans who had excellent skills--and were no good. I'm not naming any company, but if I hadn't had to retire, I would have quit, after many years, like almost everybody else and gone to work for Transtech, where I had a standing offer. I've heard TT is very good, so far. (Guess I still have a resentment, hee hee. :D)

I ask you: Is that any way to run a business? How mad is that???? To deliberately destroy the professional self-esteem of your best employees and all employees? Such companies can wipe it and kiss my foot.
I am sooooo glad you brought this up
I posted below. I am very happy working independent whether I work their hours or mine makes absolutely no difference to me. Your post is the first I ever seen that states the fact of what could happen and that is more of a tax burden for the person who blows the whistle on these owners. If a person is that ticked off with the way they are asked/told to work, why not get another JOB?
You probably need to get a life... Some people are sooooo bitter.
I am obviously good enough to keep busy with work. 
Why would there be a mailing
to all past MT's? What's that about?
no faxing/mailing
x
If they are mailing overnight, then they are using
a service such as Fed-Ex, UPS, etc., or maybe even the postal service. Not cheap by any means.
Do you mind e-mailing me also?
I currently work at a hospital, but I have to come back home to work due to my husband's job. I really need a job that is real flexible, because my daughter has special needs.

TIA!
E-Mailing from site
My apologies to you for responding by e-mail. It is late and I hit the first tab.

I totally understand. I had some disturbing e-mails once from someone who did not agree with post I made in the past.
Anyone mind e-mailing or posting CPL? nm
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Ignore it. If they are just basically e-mailing

do not feel compelled to answer an e-mail that has other MT names in it.  If it is directed right at you, then answer when you get the chance.  Don't feel nailed to the computer. 


Now if they are using IM, that is a different story.  Instant messenger is control in my honest opinion and as an IC should not be part of the deal. 


If you know your accounts in and out you may want to stay and just ignore some of the e-mails that get you hot and bothered.


I also am an IC for an online company that does mass e-mails when there is work to be done, but it is not directed right at me but to all MTs on that particular account.  I do not feel the need to answer each and every e-mail unless I am the only addressee.  Of course, you may not know if they are blind copying, but just my opinion.


I don't know what kind of mailing system

they are using but it has never gotten to me under 10 days and like I said that's after being mailed late the day of payday.  So now when others tell me they mail their paychecks, I either turn down the job or  don't even bother testing for the job.  I am not in a position to be paid like that.  I think that's the case for most people at the moment.


However, I am still looking.


 


Just like they save on postage by not mailing SM
paystubs anymore.  Every little penny they save fills their pockets, not ours.
Would you mind e-mailing me with this info...
if you don't want to post it here? TIA.
Would you mind e-mailing me what the name of the company is?
nm
Higher up PM told me packets mailing out on 9/30.
.
TJ would you mind e-mailing me I have a few questions I am confused about. I think you can from my f
x
If you are an AAMT member, they have a mailing list that corporate sm
members can use two to three times a year.
I don't see ANY MT company names on this list!! Everybody PLEASE start e-mailing.
x
Seems you're spending more UNPAID time/work e-mailing..sm

and xeroxing as if you were sitting there with no work.


Are you on straight typing or VR/typing?
x
WHY isn't it worth it?
j
For what it's worth ...
I don't know about smaller nationals, but Spheris doesn't pay for those things either. If you run out of work, you can flex your time and make it up. If you don't want to do that and had rather have the time off you are allowed to do so. If you cannot get it made up AND you don't have PTO to pay yourself, then you still file for PTO and it covers you as far as failing to make minimum production -- that way you're not in trouble.

When I first started with TEM (now Spheris), they paid downtime by the hour but cut that out with their new pay plan about a year or more ago.

I don't know of any remote company that pays only on a production basis that would really afford such an offer -- paying downtime for no work. The hospital I used to work for has remote employees but they are all paid by the hour, period (yes, even at home) with incentive that pays out an extra hourly for production. If you are going to be down for 2 hours in a day, you are expected to drive to the hospital and work your day or flex it to a later time or PTO the missing time.

I'm not saying I agree with it or am thrilled about that situation but MQ is not the only company and, in fact, I would think right in line with everyone else.
Definitely worth it!
go for it
I think DRC - they'd be worth a try. nm
xx
Keep trying. It is worth it. nm
zz
Not worth it

The 12-hour window was nice and the account I was on was great. The people were nice but the payscale was just too low. Like many others have stated nice doesn't pay the bills.


The whole training in Trinidad and other countries really irked me too. The way it was presented and handled just stunk.


You are worth more than that
I have about half your experience and make more than that. You deserve better. But, I do agree with you since I make less than I did 5 years ago that the industry is drowning.
worth a try

All of the companies that I have left told me before doing so that I was welcome back at any time.  You never know if that rings true or not until you ask for your job back. 


I asked for my job back at 3 places....


The first one accepted me back no problems but had to jump through all of the hoops again.  I decided after receiving ALL OF THE paperwork late that that is basically the reason I left in the first place (lack of any kind of decent communication) - also noticing that the send back by date on my paperwork was due 3 days before the overnight package even got to me (if that tells you anything).  Plus I wasn't able to get an old account back (that I knew had the work) so I would be going back into a situation where I might or might not have work again.  From the looks of it would be running out frequently.


So, I decided to stick with the place I was with - hoping the workflow got better and that I would actually start making a paycheck again - It didn't.


I asked for my job back with the other place - they got back to my inquiry within minutes telling me I could come back!  Boy was I thrilled.  I left to test the waters with VR because I thought it would be easier for me -- boy was I wrong and stupid.  I've been back there for a month now and couldn't be happier!!!!!!  I've been through H*LL the past few months with companies and it makes you appreciate what you did have. 


The third one, well, I didn't burn any bridges (minus leaving the in the first place which I think made her angry) - it was one place that I was sure would accept me back - or at least send me an I'm sorry we dont have any positions at this time.  that is the kind of work relationship I thought we had -- because I bent over backwards for them as an IC basically 7 days a week.  I do know the e-mail was sent and received (basically as soon as it was sent) and I never received a response back.  Then again, thinking back on it, when I said that I was leaving (twice) first time never got a response, second time I got the coldest response out of any company that I have ever been with and I was with this one for almost 2 years making 7 cpl IC.  So, I guess I saw the true colors then and regret now even asking for a position back with them. I can't believe I was willing to take a 2 cent pay loss to go back. 


SOOO-- moral of my story is -- follow your heart on this one. You left, match up the reasons why you left to is it WORTH going back.  If it is worth it, don't waste your tiem in asking for your position back!! 


Good Luck to you!!! 


 


Not worth it
TTS - This lady is actually contracting MTs to work for the company she works for. Very poor communication, much chaos. Pay not dependable and on time, although I did get all money owed but was such a hassle, not worth it!

No, not worth it
Editing by the line can be profitable, but not with this company.  Reason being just about all the work is typed offshore and needs to be listened to, even though some are just said to be read throughs.  There is also a constant lack of work.  The changes are what drove me out the door.  Person after person just GONE.  I had an account manager who had been there more than 10 years and just all of a sudden her job was gone.  The HR lady is GONE, the other HR person is now helping manage accounts.  No new accounts in ages.  No information is the worst thing, people leaving, pay dropping, and no explanation why.  They used to be an awesome company, but not now.
Why is it that men know what they are worth...
...and most women have that 'awesome' attitude in your opinion that we do not count, do not matter, and should be happy just to have a jobs, no matter how we are treated, how low we have to go, how much heavier the work load gets year after year...

sorry, but that attitude is not going to get your anywhere but the unemployment line in the long run...good luck with that.

When your companies start weeding you out, because they WILL eventually, get back to us on how great they are and how happy you are about it.

Seems like you not only agree with that, but you like it.
We always think we are worth more, don't we? (sm)

LOL - seriously though, this profession is not what it was 10 or so years ago.  I am very happy at TT.  They are very easy to work with, I love their platform, and I especially like the tech support which was practically nonexistent where I was before.  I plan on retiring from this company.


Job not worth it
I know how you feel. Now they are going to be cutting our holiday incentive in half too. We only get 2 holidays now as it is.
Not worth it at all

I have done seminars, meetings and all of the above.  With everyone talking very hard to do.  In 60 minutes of taping,  I easly got over $100 for line counts so $50 is WAY UNDERPAYMENT.   Again it is not easy to do.  I did a three day seminar once and make close to $1000 but it was an orthopedic one and with all the questions, etc. very hard to understand and lots of blanks.   No way you can get 98% accuracy and if you have to look over all the presentation material to see what they are talking about, you are wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy down there for pay.  My two cents worth.


 


 


Definitely not worth it.
I made $52,000 one year. No social life, bad health, bad attitude, and that aged me about 10 years in one year. I worked in a transcription office all day, went home, ate dinner, and worked until I could no longer see, finally crashing on the bed (if I made if that far) around 2 a.m. Why did I do it? Looking back 10 years later, I have no freaking idea. It definitely wasn't worth it and I would never, ever do it again. I've learned to live with less, changed my spending habits, and now, as an IC, I take off when I feel like it. My life is way more important than my annual income.
please say it was worth it lol
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What I am saying is, and take it for what it is worth....
Leads usually have quotas too. Work is directed to other transcriptionists and even though they say it is first in first out, that is usually not true! If you have a way to see who is working, what jobs they are getting you will see this is true. What she said was she took a stand for no work, realizes that the consequences were and went with it. Do you know how much time and lines you lose checking back and back for work? They could have let her go as most companies probably would or maybe a higher up would do something about the unfairness, though I doubt it. It is not going to change until we make it change, I certainly don't have an answer but when you cannot see what is in the dictation pool and leads and managers know this, anything can be done to you and is. Leads have quotas too and they also know where the dictation is. Probably how the girl got dictation, she knew probaby the person would be asked why she was quitting. No Transcriptionist that is solely working on line count is stealing dictation from you, you know that. She just got lucky. You should be mad that her company would give her jobs that should have gone to everybody working, where were they that they could be produced. You said it was showing no work for you. I am on your side too because it happens to me too.
MT worth
I see a lot of people say pay me what I am worth, so I would like to know - what do we think MT is worth and how did you come to that figure? What do you do to make yourself worth that? Do you proofread? Do you follow the BOS or whatever the client preference is? Do you know proper grammar, punctuation, etc? I am really curious as to what the consensus is on what an MT is worth and why? I am starting my own business, lining up several accounts, and looking to work with only the best. What things do you look for from a company? What is most important to you? What would make you want to work with someone or not work with them?
Worth of MT......sm

I would have to wonder also, would MTs rather be paid production or hourly? When I was paid hourly I had the time to proofread, research terms and do a fantastic job, however, when I went production, it is just produce, produce, produce. Don't get me wrong, I still research terms, I never guess what a doc might be trying to say, but, I will only listen for so long before leaving a blank, but, when I was hourly I might take the time to look at a previous report for the same doc or a previous report for the patient. 


I am wondering if MTs paid hourly, with the same benefits as most full time employees, such as paid time off, paid holidays, health benefits, retirement plans might not show more accuracy and feel more appreciated and therefore do a better job.


You have great questions, I would like to hear what others have to say.


I don't know how to determine what pay should be, however, I know what I make compared to many on these boards and I can say I wouldn't be able to pay my mortgage on what some of these companies want to pay. For an educated Transcriptionist with 3-5 years experience, I don't think $26-30k is out of the question. There are some on here that may make more than that, there are probably some that make less.


Anyone else have a figure that they think is fair?


Not worth it. (sm)
Crappy pay. Expect lies when they lose accounts and have no work for days on end, and the worst part, it's not true IC - they expect you to keep the schedule you set in the beginning. Yes, you get to set it, however.... when I was interviewing on the phone, the VP asked me to hold on while she IM'd some people asking where the hell they were because they were supposed to be working and weren't sticking to their schedules. They called me once at 8 a.m. on a Sunday asking me why I wasn't working, even though I worked second shift! I was an idiot. Don't make the same mistake I did.
Not worth it for me,
I do 325-350 LPH, so VR would be a huge paycut for me. No thanks!
How can this be worth it?
Do these companies actually save any money sending the work to India? If it still has to go through multiple people to get a legible document, how much could they be saving? I hope it is worth what is happening to the US workers (in all fields) here who are left either jobless or making the same salary they made 15 years ago. I have no ill feeling towards the Indian MTs. I understand that they do what they have to do to make a living, but something needs to be done about companies paying foreigners ridiculously low wages so they can make a higher profit.
is it worth it....

Recently hired by OSi.  When the tech went to install the software, he said he couldn't because I had Editscript installed.  I use Editscript for another part-time job and really don't want to take it off, however, he told me he could not install their software unless I removed Editscript. 


 I guess my question is two-fold from anyone with similar experience.  Does OSi keep you busy?  And, is it necessary to remove another software platform just because you work for more than one company?


Please. WMX is not worth 2 more SM
months (and maybe longer than that) of sitting around.  Work runs dry often.  The OP should just move on, nothing special about the company at all. 
I'm not so sure 8 cpl is worth

Needs 2nd or 3rd shift, flexible hours, but they need to know when you are working.  I find that a little odd.  I don't know who they subcontract for, but I would think a little higher line rate for IC status and 2nd and 3rd shifts would be in order.  I could be wrong on all accounts though! 


TSSC definitely worth it. sm

I just started with TSSC 6 months ago.  I think it was the best move I could make.  I have assigned accounts. I know when my work is coming and don't have to worry about it being given to someone else.   Pay is never an issue. They have direct deposit and set paydays.  No waiting for the check to come.  


I have been there through the changes and agree that it has been worth it
staying. I use the benefits and they are actually good. They do pay a portion of the health insurance but I do not think everyone knows this as they only give the employee portion when quoting.

My DD was late once by one day. Not a biggie as we knew in advance. Less important as they have a system of double checking the dates so it does not happen again.
3 cents worth
I just started doing QA for 3 cents a line.  It's my first shot at doing QA and just want QA experience, but I often feel I'm wasting my time since I'm doing this part time. My first check will be sad.
that is sad, you're right, NO job is worth all that
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